The dance group helping with addiction and mental health struggles

In a studio in Chester, dancers are finessing the choreography for their forthcoming sold-out performance at the Royal Opera House in London.

While they have all bonded over a shared love of dancing, they have also overcome similar struggles to get here.

"We've all been through trauma and our own journey," explained Michelle Hughes.

"We're a supportive community."

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre was set up to help provide an outlet both for people in recovery from addiction and those who have struggled with their mental health.

Through dancing, it wants to help participants transform their lives and share their recovery journeys.

Michelle, who has been a member since 2021, was aware of the group as part of her work as an alcohol misuse engagement worker at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

But she said she started coming to the sessions for her "own needs" after fracturing her skull in a fall and suffering two family bereavements in close succession.

"It has really helped," she said. "I'm a recovering alcoholic, nearly 16 years now.

"I didn't want to turn to drink, which why I came to the group for myself.

"The group is fantastic. As I'm severely visually impaired, people are really supportive and help me."

Tom Denbigh has been coming to the dance classes for seven years after being diagnosed with PTSD from his childhood.

He is also no stranger to this environment, having met his wife at ballroom dancing.

Tom admitted too that he is always the first one on the dance floor at weddings.

"What surprised me is the emotion I felt when I first went," said the 77-year-old from Bromborough on Merseyside.

"At my first session I was virtually in tears all the way through it because of some emotion it had brought up."

Hayden Etienne, from Liscard on Merseyside, joined the group three years ago after suffering with anxiety, panic attacks and depression.

The 66-year-old said the group had opened doors to meet other people who had faced similar struggles.

"I meet regularly with like-minded souls – people who have had their own journey so there is no ego there," he said.

Claire Morris, who is the creative and strategic director at Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, said the project enabled its members to create "a memory that will last a lifetime".

"If you've had those challenges in your life then your mind can be very busy, very distracted and very conflicting," she said.

"But you come to Fallen Angels and you get out of your mind and into your body and it just releases all those tensions and all those worries of the week."

The group will perform Holding Light - choreographed by Russell Maliphant - at London's Royal Opera House in September, followed by performances at Chester's Storyhouse and Liverpool's Everyman Theatre.

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